Foods To Avoid While Pregnant

By Sarah

You do not have to drastically change your diet just because you are pregnant. That being said, it is recommended that you eat things that are healthy for you and the baby that will support the nutrition that is needed for the baby’s growth. Eating lighter and healthy foods will also help you feel better while pregnant. Foods that are easier to digest and promote a healthy gut will help a lot with indigestion and bloating. You want to avoid eating large quantities of foods that make you feel full because they will lead to discomfort, heartburn, and indigestion.

If you are having morning sickness or food aversions, obviously stick to what is not going to cause you to be sick. Typically, listening to your cravings (as long as it’s safe) will help prevent nausea. It would not be a good idea to eat a whole bag of candy in one sitting or a whole container of ice cream. Eating things in moderation is key while you are pregnant. You want to try to eat a well rounded diet if you can. You don’t have to limit yourself. Cheese burgers, chicken, fish, fruits, vegetables, yogurts, nuts and whole grains, eggs, even the occasional cookies or bowl of ice cream are all perfectly great things to eat. One thing you absolutely have to remember is to drink PLENTY of water. Water is your best friend while you are pregnant.

Here is the list of foods recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to avoid while pregnant.

• Raw or undercooked meats.
• Foods containing raw eggs.
• Unpasteurized milk or cheese products.
• Refrigerated smoked seafoods.
• Raw sprouts.
• Deli meats and hotdogs (unless heated to 165 degrees).
• Raw shellfish.
• Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish.

Additional tips:

• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Cook all meats to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
• Avoid consuming unpasteurized products.
• Use caution and wash hands thoroughly when handling pet feces, they can contain parasites that are harmful to pregnant women.

The list is really not that long, there are still plenty of things for you to eat and if you’re like me and only crave turkey sandwiches when pregnant, you can just heat the meat up to 160 degrees and you can have a sandwich. You can also get creative with foods to avoid things you are not suppose to eat so you don’t get burnt out on eating the same things. It’s only 9 months! You got this momma!